Former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tennessee, says he's beginning a statewide listening tour of Tennessee on Monday that will take him from Mountain City to Memphis in a move toward a possible run for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Republican Bob Corker.

The weeklong trip by the former West Tennessee congressman from Frog Jump comes after U.S Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, announced her U.S. Senate candidacy on Thursday, leading some observers to wonder whether her entry might stop other Republicans from entering.

Fincher's statewide tour — which will move from the east part of the state to his home-turf in the west — is a sign that the GOP field for next year's Tennessee U.S. Senate race in might not be settled.

“I don’t really identify myself as a former congressman. I’m a farmer, a small businessman, and a part of a gospel singing ministry started by my grandmother over sixty years ago," Fincher said in a statement. "We need leaders who truly care about the people they represent, and caring starts with listening, so that’s what I’m doing for the next week."

Fincher, who served six years from 2010 to 2016 representing Tennessee's 8th Congressional District, said he plans to travel to multiple counties a day to meet with Tennesseans. He said he will make a decision on entering the race within the new few weeks. He had initially said he hoped to have a decision by Sept. 29.

Fincher's federal campaign committee currently has a balance of $2.3 million, which would give him a sizable warchest to launch a Senate run. Blackburn's federal political action committee had $3.1 million on hand.

If he does run for Senate, and is elected, Fincher said he would continue his policy of not accepting congressional insurance or its retirement plan. He said his focus would be be on "bringing more decisions and control from D.C. to Tennessee."

“Should I run, I will bring Tennessee values and common sense — balanced budgets, conservative spending, and conservative solutions — to Washington," he said. "I would be totally committed to the people of Tennessee, to listen to them, to serve them with humility and integrity.”

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn will run for the U.S. Senate. The Brentwood Republican's announcement comes days after U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said he will not seek a third term.(Photo: George Walker IV / File / Tennessean.com)

Along with Blackburn, conservative activist Andrew Ogles, who launched his run before Corker announced he won't run for reelection, and perennial candidate Larry Crim are also seeking the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. Gov. Bill Haslam said last week that he won't run for Senate.

Blackburn, who has represented Tennessee's 7th Congressional District since 2002, kicked off her campaign last week shortly after Haslam's decision with an online video that made an unabashed appeal to the hardline populist wing of the party and the strongest supporters of President Donald Trump.

"I know the left calls me a wingnut or a knuckle-dragging conservative," Blackburn says in the video. "And you know what, I say that’s all right, bring it on."

Fincher is perhaps most well known for leading the charge to reauthorize something called the Export-Import Bank. The 2015 fight to revive the entity, which provides financing for U.S. exports, pitted Fincher against some of the more conservative wing of the party.

Fincher worked behind the scenes, with the approval of outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, to get the votes needed to reauthorize the controversial financial institution.